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Unity Unit 5 – System Dynamics and Scripting Fundamentals

Unity Unit 5
Review Unit 5

UNIT DESCRIPTION

The focus of this unit of study is to introduce learners to the concepts of system thinking. Learners will begin to understand the interdependent elements of game design. Learners will also recognize the need for game documentation requirements and explore concepts in scripting.

MAJOR TOPICS

In this unit, learners will explore the following topics:

  • Components of a Game Development Plan (e.g. System Thinking, Game Documentation)
  • System Design (e.g. Functional Components, Flow Charts)
  • Anatomy of Creating Scripts (e.g. Class, Declarations, Contents, Event Sequencing, Variables, Operators, Conditionals, Programming/Scripting languages)

5.C.1: INSTRUCTOR-LED TRAINING (ILT) ACTIVITIES

5.C.1.A: Exploring the Unity Editor

This tutorial section covers the basic coding skills required to create a good game. By this Unit, learners should have experience in the import and setup of objects/models in the Unity Editor. Now, they need to develop the skill of writing scripts that cause actions to occur in the game, beyond the basic functions. Learners should complete the following tutorials:

Assignment Details

  • Create blog post titled, Spinning Cube and Simple Clock
    • Embed the spinning cube video tutorial at the top of your blog post
    • Create headings
      • Spinning Cube and Simple Clock
      • Scripting Resources
      • What you Learned
    • Create a screencast with Quicktime Player on the Mac of you demonstrating each object and explain how you built and coded it
    • Embed a screencast from YouTube of the spinning cube under the Spinning Cube and Simple Clock heading
    • Place links to the following under the Scripting Resources heading
      • Manual reference on the Unity Documentation Site
      • Scripting reference on the Unity Documentation Site
      • Write a brief description about what you learned at each link
    • Write a brief description of what you learned creating the cube and clock under the the What you Learned heading

Student Examples

Resources

https://capitalcomtech.info/2015/03/11/how-to-make-a-screencast/

5.C.1.B: Building Learner Scripting Skills – Extended Assignment

The tutorials listed below address basic commands within a game. In this assignment, learners will develop their skills and broaden their understanding of creating and writing scripts used to run and manage the games they create. Learners should complete the following tutorials:

  1. Scripts as Behavior Components (3:28): http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules/beginner/scripting/scripts-as-behaviour-components
  2. Variables and Functions (5:53): http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules/beginner/scripting/variables-and-functions
  3. Conventions and Syntax (4:41): http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules/beginner/scripting/conventions-and-syntax
  4. C# vs JS syntax (1:54): http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules/beginner/scripting/c-sharp-vs-javascript-syntax
  5. IF statements (1:26): http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules/beginner/scripting/if-statements
  6. Loops (5:33): http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules/beginner/scripting/loops
  7. Classes (6:01): http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules/beginner/scripting/classes

Assignment Details

Additional Resources

Student Examples

5.C.1.C: Systems Thinking and Game Development Planning – Assignment

Systems Thinking
Graphic from: wsfcs.k12.nc.us

During the build process, game developers often find themselves facing problems without simple solutions. To deal with these challenges, developers also need a good grasp of the fundamentals of design, problem solving, and an understanding of how everything affects the system as a whole. Introduce a systems model that outlines inputs, processes, outputs, feedback, and goals to illustrate how a change at one place in the process can affect an outcome at another point. Explain how changes to any part of the plan can affect the entire system of the game. Optional activities can include learner group review of a game sequence and the completion of a “what if” scenario for any changes they try to implement.

Class Activity

  • Read Explain the universal systems model (PDF)
  • Research how game development is done with systems thinking by different organizations
  • Present what you discovered in your research to class in small teams

Resource

5.C.2: SELF-PACE LEARNING (SPL)

5.C.2.A: Project Proposal for Capstone Project

Complete your project proposal document for your Capstone Project. Coordinate with your instructor to gain approval for your game idea.

Assignment Details

Student Example

  • Robyn’s GDD
    • This GDD was not created with DunDoc, so the format is a little different

5.C.2.B: Creating a Game Development Plan

Now that you have identified the game you want to create, it is time to focus on how all of the component parts of the game system are interrelated. As you start building a game, you must also think in linear terms of how the game progresses from start to finish and create a plan for how that process will be developed.This task is managed with flow charts, events, sequences, and alignment to the storyboard script. In your Game Design Document (GDD), create a flow chart that shows all actions that will occur in proper order from start to finish of your game.

pacman

Assignment Details

Resources

5.C.2.C: Bug Report and Project Management Software

Creative Commons image code bug by Guilherme Tavares at Flickr
Creative Commons image code bug by Guilherme Tavares at Flickr

Using bug tracking software of your choice, you will enter a bug report for any bugs created or encountered as you begin learning to code. As you repair bugs, create a Bug Tracking List and add it to the Game Developers Journal. Enter the solutions into the bug tracking database. The Bug Tracking List should be part of your final deliverables.

Assignment Details

  • Find and set up Project / Bug Tracking Software
  • Create a blog post titled, Project Management and Bug Reporting Software 
    • Include links to at least 3 online bug reporting / tracking systems
    • Write a Pro and Con section under each link
      • Describe each Pro and Con
    • State which one you are going to use for your game project

Resources

Trello Tutorial

Slack Tutorial

Tiaga

taiga

 

Unit Resources